«If this does not change, one day there will be no teachers»

«This is the struggle of a class that is saying that enough is enough and that, if this does not change, one day there will be no teachers». These are the words of Luís Mota Pinto, one of the teachers who, on the morning of this Thursday, January 12th, gathered at the Rotunda do Cubo, in Olhão, to the manifestation of teachers that also had the presence of students and some popular ones. 

The initiative came about after a conversation in the teachers' room, which was shared on social networks, where teachers from various schools in the municipality of Olhão organized themselves to be present in this location today.

«Here we have more visibility and impact. Sometimes, I feel that society is asleep to what is really happening in schools and it is necessary to show the reality that teachers live», continues Luís Mota Pinto, stressing the fact that this is a «very sincere movement of people, without political behind".

For Paula Ferrinho, Special Education teacher, the fact that it is a spontaneous movement «should be a reason for reflection for the union structures». «There are a number of teachers who do not feel represented and I include myself in that group».

«Service time that is not counted, lack of career progression and stagnant salaries» are some of the reasons that have led teachers from all over the country to demonstrate since December.

«The adhesion has been very good and for the first time we felt that part of the public opinion supports us», emphasizes Sílvia Domingos, teacher at the José Carlos da Maia School.

Even so, Luís Mota Pinto says that there are several guardians who do not understand the struggle of teachers.

«What parents have to understand is that what we are doing here is also for the students. If parents are at risk of losing their jobs because of having to stay with their children, what needs to change is the labor law and not the struggle of those who are going after their rights», emphasizes the teacher.

Also keen to support the teachers in this cause were some students from Olhão, who on Thursday morning were at the roundabout.

«We are here with our teachers because we want to support them. We have a teacher who has been teaching for 27 years and has always had the same salary and we don't think that's fair», says Lara, a 7th grade student.

This Thursday, January 12, the Ministry of Education asked for two opinions on the legality of the teachers' strikes: one requested from the Attorney General's Office and the other from the State's Legal Competence Centre.

Fenprof and STOP argue that the strikes meet all legal requirements and the Union of All Education Professionals also accuses the Government of lack of concern for the state of education.